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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES VERIFICATION/DOCUMENTATION

10/25 VOLUME V, PART III, PAGE 3

NOTE: Recipients of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance payments are entitled to the utility standard, even if they do not incur direct utility costs, if: 1) they received energy assistance at the current residence during the previous 12 months; and 2) the household contains a household member who is 60 years of age or older or is disabled, as outlined in Definitions.

The BPS must not verify the shelter expenses of homeless households that qualify for the Homeless Shelter Allowance unless the claim is questionable. See Part X.A.6.

f. Dependent Care Expenses

Households may declare dependent care expenses for a child or other household member that are needed to allow a household member to work, to look for work, or to be in a job training program. See Part X.A.3. The BPS must verify dependent care expenses.

g. Resources

Applicants must declare the amount of their liquid resources at each application. Because of the adoption of Broad-Based Eligibility allowance by VDSS, the BPS must not request verification of resources unless the declared amount is questionable, or the household fails to declare an amount.

When verification is requested, the BPS may obtain verification of liquid resources through checking and savings account statements, clearances sent to banks and savings institutions, credit union statements, etc.

h. Medical Expenses

The BPS must verify the amount of any medical expenses that may be deductible, including expenses that the household expects to incur during the certification period to get the medical standard deduction or to claim actual expenses. The agency must also verify amounts for reimbursement of medical costs, such as a reimbursement from an insurance company for a hospital bill. The BPS must obtain verification before initial certification if the household indicates the existence of a deduction for a household member who is 60 years of age or older or disabled, as outlined in Definitions. For the medical standard deduction, the household must verify that eligible members incur more than $35 a month in allowable medical expenses. Households that incur more than $235 a month in medical expenses may opt out of the medical standard deduction and verify and claim actual expenses. Any expenses that are anticipated, but not verified at certification, will be allowed if verification is provided during the certification period for households claiming actual expenses or the verification establishes entitlement to the medical standard deduction.

TRANSMITTAL #36